Oxford report: UK could lead global market for AI copyright licensing

A consensus across creative and tech sectors

The report, titled The Oxford Consultation on Copyright and AI, was written under the Accelerator Fellowship Programme at the Institute for Ethics in AI. Over forty organisations and individuals from the creative industries, the technology sector, law, policy and academia contributed. According to the Institute, the research shows a clear consensus that the UK could lead internationally in building an ethical and fair copyright market for AI.

The report calls for copyright to be strengthened, for transparency requirements on AI companies, and for a competitive licensing market. Its aim is to protect creators while unlocking UK leadership in trusted AI.

Background: a dispute that is not settled

The report arrives after a contentious period. Last year, the Government faced resistance from the creative industries and Parliament after launching a consultation that named a ‘preferred option’. That option would have required copyright holders to opt out of their work being available for use by AI developers.

The Data (Use and Access) Bill then went through five rounds of ‘ping pong’ between the House of Lords and the Commons, making it one of the longest bills this century. It ended with the Government abandoning its preferred option. The Institute notes that creators, publishers and other rights holders still have concerns about copyrighted work being used to train AI models without their consent.

Three pillars for reform

The report recommends that government resolve the dispute by giving AI developers lawful access to high-quality material, while letting creators control and be paid for the use of their work. It argues that stronger copyright protection should not be seen as a barrier to AI innovation, and that clear rules could instead create a valuable licensing market.

It sets out three pillars for reform:

• Ownership and consent
• Transparency, traceability and disclosure
• Fair licensing and market mechanisms

According to the report, the UK's strong creative industries, together with its strengths in technology, law and regulation, give it a natural advantage in the emerging global market for high-quality data used to train AI models. It adds that benefits could reach other IP-intensive sectors, including financial services, pharmaceuticals, defence and advanced manufacturing. With international competition accelerating, it concludes that the Government must move quickly.

Reactions from contributors

Baroness Beeban Kidron, Interim Chair of the Institute's Advisory Council, who wrote the preface, said it is a critical time for the creative industries to coalesce around the three pillars. She warned that without a loud and clear voice, “the status quo in which payment and control of our work is taken from us will remain.”

Dr Caroline Emmer de Albuquerque Green, Director of Research at the Institute and Director of the Accelerator Fellowship Programme, said the report shows how AI governance can work hand in hand with innovation.

Sam Radclyffe, CEO of Strand, said rights holders and AI developers “want the same thing: to know where they stand.” Zahra Shah said the UK “need not choose between AI leadership and a thriving creative economy.” Guy Gadney, Founder and CEO of Charismatic.ai, said that if government acts now, the UK can lead the world in making AI a new revenue infrastructure for creators.

What it means

The report offers a framework for a dispute that remains open after the Government dropped its opt-out proposal. For AI developers, it points to legal certainty and access to quality data through licensing. For creators, it points to consent, disclosure and payment. Whether the Government adopts the recommendations is not addressed in the source.

The report was due to be launched at the Creators Emergency Summit on Tuesday 13 October at Conway Hall, London.